Miniature multi-position rotary switch with flexible contact arrangements and inner housing cylindrical sleeve

ABSTRACT

Miniature multi-position electrical switch with cylindrical housing, and rotor provided within sleeve positioned in the housing. An insulting end plate, having a plurality of contacts selectively engaged by one or more bridging contacts on the rotor, is secured to one end of the housing, so that the end plate and housing form a complete enclosure, and hold the parts therein in assembled relation. Various actuator structures coupled to the rotor are accessible at the opposite end of the housing. Also, various contact arrangements can be provided on the rotor and the end plate, for providing different multipositions switch arrangements. The switch can be mounted on a printed circuit board by connection to the terminals secured to the end plate, or the housing can have a tubular threaded extension for panel mounting.

United States Patent 1 Garcia MINIATURE MULTI-POSITION ROTARYCYLINDRICAL SLEEVE [75] Inventor: Ricardo L. Garcia, Justice, 111. 73Assignee: Grayhill, the, La Grange, m. [221 Filed: Feb. 21, 1973 211App]. N01: 334,256

521 11.5. CI 200/11 J, ZOO/166 BE, 200/168 R 5 1 0,, 1101b 21/7 H0111 92 58 Field of Search...200/1-1 G, 11 J, 11 K, 166 BE, 200/166 BH, 168R,168 o, 166 BF 5 6 I -Re ferences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,908,77710/1959 Brown 200/11 J 3,731,016 5/1973 Nadaguchi 200/11 K 3,311,7183/1967 Allison et al.. 200/11 K 3,300,594- 1/1967 Paine et 211....200/11 G 3,043,922 7/1962 Laviana et a1. ZOO/11 J X 3,394,236 7/1968Grundig et a1. 200/11 J Apr. 9, 1974 3,676,617 7/1972 Miller ZOO/ll G XPrimary Examiner-James R. Scott Attorney, Agent, or FirmMueller andAichele [57] ABSTRACT Miniature multi-position electrical switch withcylindrical housing, and rotor provided within sleeve positioned in thehousing. An insulting end plate, having a plurality of contactsselectively engaged by one or more bridging contacts on the rotor, issecured to one end of the housing, so that the end plate and housingform a complete enclosure, and hold the parts therein in assembledrelation. Various actuator structures coupled to the rotor areaccessible at the opposite end of the housing. Also, various contactarrangements can be provided on the rotor and the end plate, forproviding different multi-positions switch arrangements. The switch canbe mounted on ap rinted circuit board by connection to the terminalssecured to the end plate, or the housing can have a tubular threadedextension for panel mounting.

13 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures 24 42\4O) 22 v g9 '36- -15 g I I 32'" fi jl 3 N4, 2e 52T\ 52 49 '5 I 49 1 j 6 PATENTEBAPR 91974 3'803'370 SHEET 2OF 2 v FIG. IO

MINIATURE MULTI-POSITION ROTARY SWITCH I WITH FLEXIBLE CONTACTARRANGEMENTS AND INNER HOUSING CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION With the miniaturization of electronic devices, and theprovision of complex circuits in extremely small packages, there aremany applications in which a miniature electrical switch is required. Insuch applications there may be a need for selectively connectingcircuits on a printed circuit board wherein an external control is notrequired, and the switch can be operated by a tool, such as ascrewdriver, which engages a recess in the actuator. In suchapplications, different switching arrangements may be necessary indifferent instances, and accordingly there is a requirement for a switchwhich can be provided with variousdifferent contact arrangements, toprovide the required connections. Presently, difierent switches must beused for the different contact arrangements, which results in a largenumber of different switches being required, with relatively smallproduction, and this causes the switches to be quite expensive.

There are also many applications in which miniature switches arerequired wherein it is necessary to have a control which is accessibleto an operator. In some cases, the switches should be suitable for panelmounting, with the switch mechanism on one side of the panel and theactuator on the opposite side. In other applica tions the switch may bemounted on a printed circuit board or other panel by the contacts aspreviously mentioned, but it may be desired to have an actuator which iseasily operable to change the switch position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide an improved miniature multi-position rotary electrical switch.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multi-position rotaryswitch having a cylindrical or tubular housing which cooperates with anend plate having contacts and terminals thereon, for holding the switchparts in assembled relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a miniature rotary switchhaving a rotor and contact plate construction which is adaptable to aplurality of different switching arrangements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a miniature rotaryswitch assembly including a housing with a sleeve therein, and a rotoroperating within the sleeve, and wherein the sleeve and rotor aresuitable for use with different housing constructions and with differentrotor actuator constructions.

In practicing the invention, an extremely small multiposition rotaryswitch is provided in a cylindrical tubular housing having an end platewith contacts closing one end of the housing, and an actuator opening inthe opposite end of the housing. A cylindrical sleeve is provided withinthe housing and a rotor moves within the sleeve and carries contacts forselectively engaging contacts in the end plate. The sleeve and rotorstructure are suitable for use in various housing configurations, andthe rotor is adapted to have different bridging contacts therewith forselectively engaging contacts in the end plate. The end plate is aninsulating plate with contacts on the side adjacent the'rotor andterminals extending from the other side which may be used for mountingthe switch. The rotor includes an actuating projection which extendsthrough an opening in the sleeve for coupling to an actuator which maybe within the housing, and have a portion extending into an opening inthe housing. The actuator may be flush with the housing with a recessfor receiving an actuating tool, or may extend through a tubularmounting part of the housing. In another embodiment the actuator isexternal to the housing and engages a portion of the rotor extendingthrough the sleeve and housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa'miniature switch in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the switch of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a crosssectional view of the switch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the actuator of the switch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified contact plate for the switch of theinvention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a modified rotor for use in the switch of theinvention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bridging contact for use with therotor of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a switch in accordance with asecond embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a view along the lines 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a switch in accordance with afurther embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 13 is a top view of the switch of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the drawings, the switch of the invention isshown much larger than the switch has been actually constructed, tobetter illustrate the parts of the switch. The switch can be ofextremely small size, with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6having a diameter of the order of 0.3 inch and a length of about 0.45inch, excluding the terminals. The overall length of the switchincluding the terminals may be about 0.6 inch. The switch shown in FIG.10 can be the same size as that shown in FIG. 3, with the threadextension and operating shaft extending therethrough being added to thedimension set forth. The switch shown in FIG. 12 has the same diameteras the switch shown in FIG. 1 and the overall length of the switch bodyand actuator, exclusive of the terminals, is about 0.45 inch.

In FIG. 1 there is shown, in perspective view, the miniature ten.position switch of the invention. This switch includes a housing 10having a plurality of terminals all extending from one end thereof. Tenouter terminals 12 are provided corresponding to the ten positions ofthe switch, and a center terminal 14 is provided which may beselectively connected to any one of the terminals 12 by the switch. Itis pointed out that other terminal and contact arrangements can beprovided by use of the switch structure to be described. At the oppositeend of the switch housing 10, an actuator 15 is provided having ascrewdriver slot 16 for rotating the same. An indicator 17 on theactuator 15 indicates the position of the switch, with the positionsbeing numbered around the annular end 18 of the housing 10.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view and FIG. 3 is a crosssectional view bothshowing the parts forming the switch of FIG. 1. In the followingdescription the switch structure shown in these views, and by the viewsof FIGS. 4 and 5, will be referred to. The end 18 of the housing 10 hasan opening 22 for receiving the projecting part 24 of the actuator 15,with the part 24 serving to center the actuator within the end 18 of thehousing 10. Within the housing 10 is a sleeve 25 which cooperates with arotor 28 which is coupled to the actuator 15. The rotor 28 has an outercylindrical surface portion (FIG. 2) which rotates'within an innercylindrical surface portion of sleeve 25 (FIG. 3). The sleeve 25 has arecessededge 30 which engages a shoulder 31 in the housing 10 toaccurately position the same. A projecting key 32 is provided on thesleeve 25, which fits into the keyway 33 in the housing 10, adjacent tothe shoulder 31, to hold the sleeve 25 against rotation within thehousing 10.

To limit the rotation of the actuator 15with respect to the housing 10and the sleeve 25, a projection 35 is provided on the inside face of theactuator'15 (FIG; 4) which engages stops 36 provided in recesses 38 inthe end 26 of the sleeve 25. A plurality of recesses 38 may be providedat regular angular positions in the end 26 of sleeve 25, and stopsmay'be selectively positioned therein to permit rotation of the actuator 15through a desired arc.

The rotor 28 includes a projection 40 which extends through the opening27in the end 26 of the sleeve 25 into a recess 42 in the actuator 15.The projection 40 tending therebetween to bias the same outwardly. The

balls 45 engage a ribbed section 48 on the inside surface of the sleeve25 (FIG. to provide a detent action. The detent positions may be at 36with respect to each other, for the position switch which has beenreferred to.

The rotor 28 also has one or more openings or recesses 49 at theendtherof opposite to projection 40, to receive a conducting bridgecontact 50. The contact 50 is spring biased downwardly by coil spring 52to engage the contacts in an insulating end plate 60. Contacts 53 areconnected to the outer terminals 12, and a center contact 54 isconnected to the center terminal 14. The use of a single bridge contact50 with a single center contact will provide a. single pole, multiplethrow switch having 10 positions. If desired, a second bridge contact50a can be provided positioned at 180with respect to contact 50, to forma cross shorting switch. The switch so provided will have acommon-contact, when a single center contact54 is used. 7 I

As shown in FIG.',3, the switch parts are assembled in the housing 10with the actuator in the end of the housing and having the projection 24thereof within the opening 22 of the end 18 of the housing. The sleeve25 is also positioned within the housing 10, with the key 32 in therecess 33 provided therefore. The rotor 28 is positioned within thesleeve 25, with the projection 40 thereon positioned within the recess42 in the actuator 15. The end plate 60 is positioned against the rotor28,

holding the bridge contact 50 (and 50a) in position therein. The end 20of the housing 10 is then formed over the edge of the end plate to holdthe various parts which have been described in assembled relation.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the bottom of the rotor 28, andshows the bridge contacts 50 and 50a provided at 180 positions inopenings 49 in the rotor. The contacts 50 and 50a are wider adjacent thecenter of the rotor, than at the outer edge of the rotor. As shown inFIG. '7, the contact 54 can be replaced by two semi-circular contacts 56and 57, and these contacts are connected to two separate terminals. Inthis case, a double pole switch is provided, with each bridging contacthaving five positions for selectively connecting one of the centercontact 56 or 57 with five of the contacts 53 connected to the terminals12.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a rotor which may be used 4 in the switch ofthe invention, which has a plurality of slots 62 for receiving bridgecontacts. The rotor has 10 slots 62 to accept the same number of bridgecontacts as individual contacts. The slots 62 have enlarged portions 64for receiving coil springs, which may be smaller than the springs 48shown in FIG. 3. The bridge contacts which are used in the ,slots 62 areshown in FIG. 9, and are designated contacts 66. Because a large numberof bridge contacts are used, the contacts are smaller than in theembodiment of FIG. 3, wherein only one or two bridge contacts are used.The contacts 66 may be of uniform thickness to fit into the slots 62 inthe rotor shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a switch of a construction generally similar to that ofFIG. 3, but which is adapted for panel mounting. The housing 70 has athreaded extension 71 thereon, which can extend through a panel and besecured thereto by a threaded nut, in a well known manner. The actuator72 has apart within the housing generally similar to the actuator 15,but instead of a projecting part which is flushed with the end of thehousing, the actuator includes a shaft 74 which extends through tubularextension 71. This is adapted to re ceive a control knob for actuatingthe switch, in an obvious manner. FIG. 11 is atop view of the switch ofFIG. 10.

FIG. 12' shows a still further embodiment of the switch of theinvention. In this construction, the housing is shorter than the housing10 in FIG. 3, having an inturned edge 81 at the position of the shoulder31 of the housing 10. The edge 81 has a recess to receive the key 32 onthe sleeve 25. The sleeve 25, the rotor 28 and the end plate 60 may beof the same construction as in FIG. 3.

In the structure of FIG. 12, an actuator 85 external to the housing issecured to the actuating projection 40 on the rotor 28. The actuator 85may have a knurled edge as shown in FIG. 13. The actuator 85 and thepro- It will be apparent that the rotor construction as shown in FIG. 3,or as shown in FIG. 8, can be used in the switches of FIGS. and 12.Also, contact plate constructions as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 can be usedin these embodiments.

In the switch construction of the invention a plurality of switchcontact arrangements can be obtained by the use of different rotor andend plate structures, with the other parts of the switch beingunchanged. Similarly different housing configurations, such as theconfigurations shown in FIGS. 3, l0 and 12 can be used with the samesleeve, rotor and end plate constructions. Accordingly, a switch of verysmall size can be constructed very inexpensively, and the same parts canbe used in different applications so that the production quantities canbe large, resulting in economical manufacturing costs.

I claim:

1. A miniature multi-position rotary electrical switch including incombination,

.a cylindrical housing having a first open end and a second end havingan inturned annular portion, cylindrical sleeve within said housinghaving an inner cylindrical 'surfaceportion and an annular inturned endadjacent said second end of said housing, said sleeve having a portionengaging said housing to'prevent rotation of said sleeve within saidhousing,

a rotor having an insulating body with an outer cylindrical surfaceportion rotatably positioned within said inner cylindrical surfaceportion of said sleeve, said rotor having an actuating part integralwith said insulating body and extending from one end of said bodythrough said annular inturned end of said sleeve, and first contactmeans movable with said body and positioned at the end thereof oppositeto said actuating part,

an insulating end plate adjacent said opposite end of said rotor body,and

second contact means secured to said end plate and adapted to beselectively engaged by said first contact means,

said end plate being secured to said first end of said housing to holdthe switch in assembled relation, with said sleeve within said housingand said rotor within said sleeve.

2. The switch according to claim 1 including an actuator coupled to saidactuating part of said rotor body, and having a portion within saidinturned annular portion of said housing.

3. The switch according to claim 2 wherein said portion of said actuatoris substantially flush with said second end of said housing and has arecess therein adaptedv to receive a tool for rotating said actuator.

4. The switch according to claim 2 wherein said housing has a tubularmounting portion extending from said second end thereof, and saidactuator includes a shaft extending through said tubular portion.

5. The switch according to claim 2 wherein said actuating part of saidrotor body extends through said annular portion at said second end ofsaid housing, and said actuator is a knob outside said housing which isconnected to said actuating part.

6. The switch according to claim 1 including detent means coupled tosaid rotor body, and wherein said sleeve has a ribbed portion positionedto cooperate with said detent means to provide predetermined positionsfor said rotor within said housing.

7. The switch according to claim 6 wherein said rotor body has anopening extending along a diameter thereof, and said detent meansincluding first and second balls and a spring therebetween positionedwithin said opening, with said balls bearing against said ribbed portionon opposite sides of said sleeve to tend to hold said rotor in saidpredetermined-positions.

8. The switch according to claim 1 wherein said second contact means insaid end plate includes a center contact and a plurality of individualcontacts positioned about said center contact, and said first contactmeans of said rotor includes a bridging contact for selectivelyinterconnecting said center contact and one of said individual contacts.

9. The switch according to claim 8 wherein said second contact means insaid end plate includes first and second center contacts divided along adiameter of said end plate, and said first contact means of said rotorincludes first and second bridging contacts each movable to a pluralityof positions for connecting said first and second center contactsindividually to selected ones of said individual contacts.

10. The switch according to claim 8 wherein said second contact means insaid end plate includes a plurality of center contacts, and said firstcontact means of said rotor includes a plurality of bridging contactseach movable to a plurality of positions for selectively connecting saidcenter contacts individually to said individual contacts.

11. The switch according to claim 10 wherein said rotor includesprovisions for receiving a number of bridging contacts equal to saidnumber of individual contacts of said second contact means.

12. The switch according to claim 1 including an actuator coupled tosaid actuating part of said rotor body and having a stop projection onthe side thereof adjacent said cylindrical sleeve, and said annular endof said cylindrical sleeve includes stop means thereon adapted to beengaged by said projection on said actuator to limit the rotation ofsaid actuator and of said rotor coupled thereto.

13. The switch according to claim 12 wherein said stop means includes aplurality of recesses in said annular end of said cylindrical sleeve andat least one stop plate selectively positioned in said recesses inposition to be engaged by said projection on said actuator for limitingthe rotation of said actuator and of said rotor coupled thereto.

1. A miniature multi-position rotary electrical switch including incombination, a cylindrical housing having a first open end and a secondend having an inturned aNnular portion, a cylindrical sleeve within saidhousing having an inner cylindrical surface portion and an annularinturned end adjacent said second end of said housing, said sleevehaving a portion engaging said housing to prevent rotation of saidsleeve within said housing, a rotor having an insulating body with anouter cylindrical surface portion rotatably positioned within said innercylindrical surface portion of said sleeve, said rotor having anactuating part integral with said insulating body and extending from oneend of said body through said annular inturned end of said sleeve, andfirst contact means movable with said body and positioned at the endthereof opposite to said actuating part, an insulating end plateadjacent said opposite end of said rotor body, and second contact meanssecured to said end plate and adapted to be selectively engaged by saidfirst contact means, said end plate being secured to said first end ofsaid housing to hold the switch in assembled relation, with said sleevewithin said housing and said rotor within said sleeve.
 2. The switchaccording to claim 1 including an actuator coupled to said actuatingpart of said rotor body, and having a portion within said inturnedannular portion of said housing.
 3. The switch according to claim 2wherein said portion of said actuator is substantially flush with saidsecond end of said housing and has a recess therein adapted to receive atool for rotating said actuator.
 4. The switch according to claim 2wherein said housing has a tubular mounting portion extending from saidsecond end thereof, and said actuator includes a shaft extending throughsaid tubular portion.
 5. The switch according to claim 2 wherein saidactuating part of said rotor body extends through said annular portionat said second end of said housing, and said actuator is a knob outsidesaid housing which is connected to said actuating part.
 6. The switchaccording to claim 1 including detent means coupled to said rotor body,and wherein said sleeve has a ribbed portion positioned to cooperatewith said detent means to provide predetermined positions for said rotorwithin said housing.
 7. The switch according to claim 6 wherein saidrotor body has an opening extending along a diameter thereof, and saiddetent means including first and second balls and a spring therebetweenpositioned within said opening, with said balls bearing against saidribbed portion on opposite sides of said sleeve to tend to hold saidrotor in said predetermined positions.
 8. The switch according to claim1 wherein said second contact means in said end plate includes a centercontact and a plurality of individual contacts positioned about saidcenter contact, and said first contact means of said rotor includes abridging contact for selectively interconnecting said center contact andone of said individual contacts.
 9. The switch according to claim 8wherein said second contact means in said end plate includes first andsecond center contacts divided along a diameter of said end plate, andsaid first contact means of said rotor includes first and secondbridging contacts each movable to a plurality of positions forconnecting said first and second center contacts individually toselected ones of said individual contacts.
 10. The switch according toclaim 8 wherein said second contact means in said end plate includes aplurality of center contacts, and said first contact means of said rotorincludes a plurality of bridging contacts each movable to a plurality ofpositions for selectively connecting said center contacts individuallyto said individual contacts.
 11. The switch according to claim 10wherein said rotor includes provisions for receiving a number ofbridging contacts equal to said number of individual contacts of saidsecond contact means.
 12. The switch according to claim 1 including anactuator coupled to said actuating part of said rotor body and having astop projection on the side thereof Adjacent said cylindrical sleeve,and said annular end of said cylindrical sleeve includes stop meansthereon adapted to be engaged by said projection on said actuator tolimit the rotation of said actuator and of said rotor coupled thereto.13. The switch according to claim 12 wherein said stop means includes aplurality of recesses in said annular end of said cylindrical sleeve andat least one stop plate selectively positioned in said recesses inposition to be engaged by said projection on said actuator for limitingthe rotation of said actuator and of said rotor coupled thereto.